SAN JOSE (KCBS) – The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters said turnout in the November election could be the highest since the 1970s.

For those who have not registered yet, the process is going to be much easier this year as online registration started just this week in California.

“Instead of mailing the form in, to fill out the form online and match it up with your signature at the DMV or your Social Security number, you can register online and it will be instantaneous,” said Barry Garner with the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters.

KCBS’ Mike Colgan Reports:

Garner said the vote-by-mail registration numbers are also going up.

“In the case of Santa Clara County, about 70 percent of our voters are vote-by-mail voters. We’re one of the leaders in the state,” Garner said. “It’s very popular and I think it’s going to pick up.”

He said the main reason for the high rate of absentee voters is convenience. Palo Alto resident Susan Mitchell said that’s why she opted for a permanent vote-by-mail ballot.

“I have the opportunity to look over the materials and think about it. And then usually I vote with everybody else and take my ballot to the poll,” she said. “Drop it off and get my little sticker that said I voted.”

Voter turnout in Santa Clara County is expected to be around 85 percent.

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Mike ColganMike Colgan, who has worked in Bay Area radio for more than 40 years, has been at KCBS since 1988. Other stops include a 13 year stint at KFRC, then...More fromMike Colgan